Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are one of just two teams to not record a victory in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. That winless streak looks set to extend into game four with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting a high chance of rain at the Eden Gardens during the match window of their upcoming clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Thursday, April 9.
KKR suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening two fixtures - losing by six-wickets to Mumbai Indians (MI) at home after scoring 220/4 in their season opener, before suffering a heavy 65-run defeat away to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
The Ajinkya Rahane-led side batted just 3.4 overs in their last clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Eden Gardens before the pre-monsoon “Kalbaisakhi” storms hit, leading to the points being split between the two sides after the match was abandoned without a result.
That result saw KKR make a marginal step upwards to eighth spot on the table, above only Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, both of whom have similarly failed to pick up a victory this season. However, they were pushed back to 9th position after GT's thrilling win against DC on Wednesday.
Their poor start to the season, coupled with the early storms in Kolkata, could heap the pressure on KKR, leaving them with very little margin for error in their hopes of making the playoffs this season.
IMD Forecast Flags Evening Thunderstorm Risk
The IMD has issued a Yellow Alert for Kolkata on match day (April 9), following an orange Alert on April 8 when heavy thunderstorms hit the city.
The forecast indicates a partly cloudy sky in the morning, turning generally cloudy through the afternoon. More critically, there is a high likelihood of moderate thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds during the evening hours, directly overlapping with the scheduled 7:30 p.m. IST start.
Temperatures are expected to range between 21°C and 31°C, but the timing of the expected showers remains the primary concern for match officials and teams.
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Wet Outfield, Delays Likely Even If Rain Clears
Even if rain relents before the toss, conditions may not improve quickly enough for uninterrupted play.
Kolkata has been experiencing consistent pre-monsoon “Kalbaisakhi” storms through the week, leaving surfaces damp and increasing humidity levels.
While Eden Gardens boasts one of the better drainage systems in the country, repeated evening showers reduce recovery time, raising the likelihood of delays or a shortened contest.
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